19-2Learning Targets

1.Explain why Hitler was able to take over Austria and Czechoslovakia

2.Describe the early events of the war and why Britain was able to resist

After Hitler took power, he began to re-establish German power in Europe

European leaders followed a policy of appeasement. ◦ Giving concessions in

exchange for peace

“Peace in our Time”

Why did they give Hitler what he wanted instead of standing up to him?◦ They feared another

war like WWI◦ Some agreed with

Hitler’s demands◦ Some thought if the

Nazis got what they wanted, then they would stop

Appeasement

Anschluss - or union with Austria. Hitler wanted all German speaking people unified. Hitler annexed Austria in 1938

Munich Crisis – Hitler then claimed the German speaking region of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland

The Czechs did not want to join Germany and it looked like war might brake out.

At the last minute, British leader Neville Chamberlain, agreed to Hitler’s demands and war was averted. Or so they thought.

A few months later, Hitler took over the rest of Czechoslovakia.◦ Hitler learned that

the British and French were weak and would do anything to avoid war

In 1939, Germany and Russia signed the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact. They agreement stated that neither side would attack the other◦ It shocked the world because

Communism and Nazism were totally opposed to each other

◦ They also secretly agreed to divide up Poland

1939…

In 1939 Germany began to demand territory from Poland.

When Poland refused Germany invaded. Polish allies Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later.

World War II had begun

The War Begins

The Germans had developed a new type of combat called Blitzkrieg or lightning war.

Blitzkrieg tactics used speed to overwhelm the enemy with coordinated attacks from tanks, troops and planes.

The Germans held off on attacking the western allies for several months. This period was known as the sitzkrieg by the Germans and the phony war by the others.

The French had built a massive defensive system called the Maginot Line to protect them.

Starting on April 9 1940, the Germans raced around the Maginot Line and trapped the allies.

Many of the British troops escaped at the French town of Dunkirk

The British called up almost every boat in the country to evacuate the troops

France surrendered in June of 1940

Miracle at Dunkirk

The British were inspired by their new leader Winston Churchill

Churchill urged Britons to never give up and to always keep fighting

Churchill

In the summer of 1940 the German air force tried to knock out the British air force as a prelude to a German invasion

The British were victorious in the Battle of Britain and Hitler abandoned plans to invade

Battle of Britain